Customer Reviews

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Sun

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This is a very nice book that will be of interest both to amateur astronomers and people with good physics background. The author separated descriptive text from text with mathematical content and as a result one can choose to read in a depth appropriate to their background. The book is also very well illustrated with informative captions below each picture. It is clear that the author is enthusiastic about the subject. However, what I did not like was that almost 100 from the 250 pages are devoted to general astronomical concepts and a glossary. This material is good but I would prefer to read more details about the sun. If the introduction explained solar physics (such as magnetism, spectra) in much more detail then subsequent chapters would be understood even better. I recommend the book to all people with a serious interest in the physics of our star.

I bought the book to have an up to date scientific reference on the Sun to complement my other books on how to view the Sun and my own solar observations. The book is well written and separates the detailed scientific equations and calculations form the general text. The scientific details are in separate boxes and easily identified, which facilitates the reading of the main text. The photos are excellent and up to date. They helped me understand my own astrophotography photos. I would definitely recommend the book to anyone with a serious desire to grasp out current understanding of the Sun or any amateur astronomer who is considering solar observations. The only small comment I have is the author's treatment of the impact of the Sun on the Earth. When you do not know, say you do not know. Do not say "apparently" and other weak references. Science in based on fact and 99% of the book sticks to known facts or states what we do not know. I do not appreciate pseudo science or politics creeping into a scientific reference. The motto of the Royal Society is "Nullius in verba", In the words of no man. The data must stand on its own as it has for hundreds of years of scientific discovery, and that is how it should be today.

NOTE: Be sure to check other books on how to view the Sun and use proper filters for your telescope before viewing the Sun. Never view the Sun with the naked eye or binoculars. Even a quick glance can cause blindness. This is a great subject, but be careful!